I recently read somewhere that the coffee table is one of several home decorating standards that seems to be on its way ‘out’. I chuckled at the notion – I mean, who could ever imagine a world without a coffee table, that’s absurd! – and then I realized we actually don’t have a coffee table, ourselves.

Huh.

Well I know why WE don’t have a coffee table – our space is very limited. We don’t have a play room, so our living room needs to be clear of all extraneous furniture so my 2.9 year old son can run in circles around our house (true story). And while our home certainly isn’t the most stylish on the block, I did find some fantastic small spaces that are coffee table free for inspiration.

Of course, it isn’t just those with limited space who are giving up on the coffee table. So when did the coffee table – that anchor of sitting areas from sea to shining sea – become the dregs of the living room? My guess it was right about the time that people stopped actually using their formal living rooms. It isn’t uncommon for formal living rooms to be repurposed into everything from playrooms to offices these days – losing out to the favor of the family room or great room. And with everything going on in a family or great room, a stuffy coffee table just doesn’t seem to fit.

Fortunately, for those who still need something to rest their coffee on (or let’s be real here – their feet on while relaxing), there are some fantastic non-coffee table, table options out there in the form of ottomans big and small…

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Welcome to "Musings", FLOR's blog dedicated to design inspiration. We've invited a few of our friends to share their personal design thoughts and experiences. We hope you leave feeling empowered and return to be inspired.